March 19-25, I didn’t turn on the TV on.
I was inspired by my friend Jen, who has been challenging herself and her readers with a new earth-friendly activity each month.
At the end of 2010, I evaluated the way I was spending my time and decided to start limiting my television viewing time. I had big things in my sights for 2011 and knowing that reaching goals and making plans would need time, I set myself up with a goal of 7 hours or less of TV weekly.
Just a few short weeks into 2011, I already noticed some significant gains and losses in my life thanks to the change in my viewing schedule. I’ve been fairly diligent to the 7 hours or less of television each week. I may have snuck in an extra hour or two one week here or there, but others I haven’t come close to the full 7 hours of TV-time, and balance seems to be the key these days, doesn’t it?
So like I said,
For one week in March, I didn’t turn on the TV once.
I logged no Hulu hours, skipped the new Grey’s, and didn’t allow myself to be fooled by the allure of the break room television during my lunch time at the office.
Instead, I finished 3 books, and started 3 more.
I headed out on a 3 mile run and ended up running 6 miles instead.
I wrote some fiction. [ more than 2 sentences at a time, even]
I spent a few hours crafting on my living room floor, and flipped through a large stack of magazines I hadn’t had time for previously.
I spent 4 hours on the phone with my dear friend Megan, in which we laughed, and shared, and got out our high school yearbooks and played a game which included my reading a phone number to Megan and her guessing whose it was. [Like you don’t have 57 “Call me this summer”s in your year books!]
Then the week was over.
I watched Grey’s on Hulu.
I watched State Fair on TCM, and sang along while I folded the laundry.
I watched Glee even though it was a rerun, and thanks to one night of insomnia, I watched Jeopardy at 1:30 AM.
I wanted to share this, because I think the idea is often put out into the world that a) we don’t NEED television, and b) we are somehow “better” if we live with out it. Truthfully, I was almost expecting to be “over” television after the week had wrapped; as if the 7 day detox would rid me of any entertainment desires.
This just in: I think television makes me “better.” I think that I don’t “need” television, but that I want television; maybe not all the time, and maybe not a lot of the time, but some of the time.
i gave up tv this month (and actually kind of the end of last month, i guess) so i’m about two weeks “sober.” i did it because i don’t feel like it’s adding anything to my life. it’s just my excuse to turn off my life and try to live vicariously through others’. i’ve found that tv (much like women’s mags) often makes me feel like i need more than what i have–be it a new wardrobe, a different job, a vacation, a house in the south of france.
i agree that tv isn’t bad all the time or inherently bad. it’s just bad for me right now. i’m really busy with school and so i’m making sacrifices in my life to get everything done. unfortunately, i was sacrificing things that are important to me (yoga, my food ethics, my relationships) and still finding time to watch a two-hour episode of the bachelor each week.
i also don’t want to use tv as an escape, as it is so easy to do. i guess it’s good to turn off my mind but when i do so by turning on the tv i’m really just avoiding or running from problems i really need to think through or address. without all the background noise of the tv, i feel like i am better equipped to do just that.
we won’t be without tv forever. we are cutting our cable, though, and will get by with whatever few channels still come in once this month is over. i’m looking forward to it.
thanks for sharing your story, Katie! I appreciate it.
way to go making the sacrafices that are best for you. This is why I cut down my TV time from the beginning. I needed to focus more of my time on the BEST things for me. xoxo
I think it’s always a good idea to reevaluate things when we’re not sure if they’re working for us. I honestly feel like it’s good for me to watch some TV – all of the shows I watch I either watch with people or talk about with people, and it’s fun. For me TV is something that happens at the end of the day, when I’ve already worked out, done a whole days worth of work or play or whatever not involving the TV, eaten dinner, and I just want to unwind in front of a show. If I started to see that I was reaching for the TV before doing anything else, or I was watching TV to avoid doing other “real life” things, I would reconsider, but I think the amount I watch is good for me. I think there are still ways you can go on your 6 mile run, talk to your friend for an hour on the phone, and read books AND watch some TV, yes?
Corey @ the runner’s cookie recently posted..Brunching at Biltmore
oh, yes, most def! I especially love that I am now in the habit of doing OTHER things first and turning the TV on later, rather than instantly turning it on when I walk in the door which was a horrible habit I had last year!
It’s all about balance. Good on you for finding yours and thinking about it. I don’t have a TV, not because it makes me a better person (initially it was because I couldn’t afford one) now it’s because I am easily distracted and have little willpower, if the TV’s on, I’m going to watch it and it’s a time suck, in a way that the radio isn’t.
Nic Dempsey recently posted..Three good things about today
Inspired by your desire to limit TV at the New Year I now make a to-do list for home before I leave the office. I start on that first and then turn on the TV. I love certain shows because they are a connection with friends who also watch them and we can chat about them later. Others are junk that I watch to zone out and quite frankly I prefer zoning with a good book or on the treadmill.
Cynthia (It All Changes) recently posted..My Day Without Shoes
I do think that I watch too much TV, and I know I certainly watch it a lot more than I used to, which kind of blows my mind. But I think my favorite thing about it is the social aspect – that I can talk with my friends about the shows we both love. And Aaron and I will totally be (well, kind of already are
) that couple that will be homebodies and have certain nights that we won’t want to go out because we have our shows. 
Kayla recently posted..Top 10 Tuesday – Funny Movies
thats impressive that you got through reading quite a few books!! yea its crazy how much one can accomplish without tv…and i agree, sometimes its not fun without tv- a bit is good, especially when u feel really crummy and need something to look at while mindlessly marinating on the couch (which is what i call my ideal monday night) lol
xoxo
I just found your blog and I love your writing style. I’ve been trying to cut back on tv because it can be such a time suck. I want to read more, take longer walks with my dog more, experiment in the kitchen more and since I cannot just sit and stare at the tv, snack less.